Chapter 123. Two Matters
When Shuta An arrived at the Student Council office, Symboli Rudolf looked up and greeted him.
"Good morning, Shuta-kun. I heard you went to watch the mock race?"
"I watched a few and then left."
The young man sat down on the sofa, accepted the tea Air Groove had brewed, and nodded.
"I hope I didn't cause any trouble for the Academy?"
"That alone already counts as unusual behavior," Symboli Rudolf said, setting down her pen. "Most Uma Musume here may daydream, but they know those dreams are only dreams. They won't say anything strange out loud."
Then she looked at him more closely.
"But coming to see me at this hour, you must have something on your mind, yes?"
"Otherwise, it's hard to imagine Shuta-kun not spending this time leisurely in the clubroom," the Student Council President added, narrowing her eyes. "So, was there anything inappropriate during the mock race?"
"No, not at all. Relax a little." Shuta An waved a hand. "I'm only here to confirm two things with Miss Rudolf."
"First, I previously suggested creating a new Grade 1 race at Tokyo Racecourse in the first half of the year. What was the URA Association's response?"
Symboli Rudolf answered at once.
"They plan to discuss it at the annual meeting. I've already brought it up."
She folded her hands lightly.
"I think it should pass. The proposal is meant to extend the competitive careers of Uma Musume on the Triple Tiara route in the Twinkle Series. There should be little reason for internal opposition."
"That would be even better."
Shuta An smiled.
"If it can be established next year, I'll definitely have Dober run in it."
As for Mejiro Dober's race schedule in the first half of next year, he had no intention of sending her back to Australia.
If the goal was the newly established G1, then a Dubai Turf run first, followed by the new G1, and then either the Yasuda Kinen or Takarazuka Kinen would fit perfectly.
Air Groove hesitated slightly on the side.
She also wanted to run in the new G1, but to be honest, she did not think she could beat Mejiro Dober.
The thought of facing Dober, who remained undefeated in Triple Tiara-limited races, already gave her a headache.
"My second question is this."
Shuta An's expression became a little more serious.
"I'd like Symboli Rudolf to let me see the family situation and background check of an elementary division Uma Musume named Admire Vega."
That request made Symboli Rudolf raise an eyebrow.
"Interesting. Why is Shuta-kun suddenly interested in an elementary school Uma Musume?"
Air Groove answered before he could.
"Admire Vega completely broke away from the rest of the field in today's mock race. She led from start to finish. Her talent seems to be on a completely different level from the others of her generation."
"I see."
Symboli Rudolf smiled faintly.
"Then Shuta-kun wants to invite her to your team? Wouldn't a direct invitation be enough?"
"Admire Vega said she had no intention of joining any team."
Shuta An shrugged.
"So I didn't make an invitation directly."
"Perhaps she's aiming for your Sadalsuud Team?" Symboli Rudolf said with a slight grin. "If you ask her directly, she might just agree."
"Impossible."
Shuta An was momentarily speechless.
"I could tell that what Admire Vega said at the time was serious. She really did not want to join any team."
"That's why I want to investigate her family situation and background," he added. "Maybe I can find the reason."
Symboli Rudolf frowned thoughtfully.
"That is strange indeed. The Academy clearly states that an Uma Musume can only race if she has a trainer. Her willingness to enroll at Central Tracen Academy proves she wants to become an Uma Musume, so why would she refuse to join a team?"
"Maybe she wants individual guidance from a trainer," Shuta An said. "Or maybe there's another hidden reason. That's the only possibility I can think of."
"Then I'll help Shuta-kun look into it," Symboli Rudolf said, clapping her hands once.
Then her expression turned slightly stern.
"However, there is one thing I must remind you of. Starting next year, the URA Association will require trainers not to contact an Uma Musume's family if she has not joined a team. So if Shuta-kun wants to visit her home, it has to be within this year. Otherwise, it would count as a violation."
"I always follow the rules."
Shuta An's tone remained light.
"Don't worry."
After photocopying Admire Vega's family information and background check from Symboli Rudolf, Shuta An stapled the pages together and took them back, planning to read them carefully in the clubroom.
I wonder if I'll find anything.
As he walked, that thought drifted through his mind.
Things were already more complicated than he had expected.
He only hoped they would not become even more complicated after he finished reading the report.
Back in the clubroom, he sat down in the office chair, skipped past the family information page, and went straight to the background check.
For every Uma Musume admitted to Central Tracen Academy, a background check was conducted before enrollment.
Because the admissions scale was so large, the reports were usually quite simple.
The most detailed one Shuta An had ever seen was Oguri Cap's.
That report had been packed with local race records, details about the French Two Crowns, and even all sorts of speculation about Shuta An himself, which he had personally considered wildly inaccurate.
But when he opened Admire Vega's background check, he raised an eyebrow.
"This is pretty substantial."
Toshima Ward 121st PONY Cup 400m group winner.
Bunkyo Ward 108th PONY Cup 400m group winner.
Minato Ward 110th to 113th PONY Cup 400m group four-time champion.
The first page was filled with records like these.
"She competed in many children's races," Shuta An murmured with a small smile. "So she really was a child star. No wonder her performance in the mock race was so strong."
After all, she had been competing since she was very young.
Her experience was clearly far richer than that of most girls her age.
But one thing caught his attention immediately.
Admire Vega had stopped competing in those events two years before she transferred into the elementary division.
"Did her family want her to settle down?"
He raised an eyebrow and wrote that question into his notebook.
He planned to ask every question he had noted during the background check when he went to visit Admire Vega's home.
"At the very least, I need to come up with five questions."
He weighed the thickness of the report in his hands and silently set himself that goal.